Palmetto State News

Attorney General Alan Wilson led the 27th annual Silent Witness Domestic Violence ceremony at the South Carolina State Capitol Complex in Columbia. The event, held during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, honored victims of fatal domestic violence from the past year.

During the ceremony, Attorney General Wilson read out the names of 24 women and six men who lost their lives due to domestic violence. Family members and friends carried life-sized silhouettes representing each victim. A bell was rung for each name called, and an additional silhouette was carried to symbolize potential unknown victims.

“Breaking the silence is the first step toward ending domestic violence. Each life lost to domestic violence is a call to action; let their memory fuel our fight for justice and change,” said Attorney General Wilson. “Domestic violence is not just a private matter; it is a public concern that needs our collective response. When we stand together, we can end domestic violence and create safer communities."

The event also featured remarks from religious leaders and community members who highlighted the issue of domestic violence in South Carolina.

A report by the Violence Policy Center, released in October 2023, analyzed data from 1996 to 2020 related to men killing women across the nation. According to this report, South Carolina ranked among the top 10 states for such incidents in 23 out of those 25 years.

A statistical breakdown for each county involved in these incidents is available on the South Carolina Attorney General's website.

Below are some of this year's Silent Witness victims:

- Jamilla Smith (30), Aiken County

- Ruth Whitaker (70), Aiken County

- Marcella Caravello (69), Beaufort County

- Marissa Decker (46), Berkeley County

- Adiarylis Fowler (24), Berkeley County

- Nakita Baxter (25), Clarendon County

- Kadajah McKay (25), Darlington County

- Bethany Shaw (21), Darlington County

- Adam Ward (49), Darlington County

- Teaeshia Kirkland (34), Florence County

- Angelica Aquino (33), Greenville County

- Javaria Drummond (23), Greenville County

- Genesys Rice (18), Greenville County

- Anthony Robbins (52), Greenville County

- Elizabeth Todd (45), Greenville County

- Jordan Privette (20), Kershaw County

- Robert Lee Wedman (31), Laurens County

- Dominique Bolen(36) LexingtonCounty - Chastity Busick(48)LexingtonCounty - Mae Nicole Moates(34)LexingtonCounty - Antonio Bethea(47)MarionCounty - Ajhai Yvonne Taraya Gambrell(28)OconeeCounty - Barbara Dinkins(48)RichlandCounty - Jaylan Sarah Hasty(29)RichlandCounty - CJ Antoine Sims(38)RichlandCounty - Wynter Straw(25)RichlandCounty - Nayda Pastrana Aguila(51)SpartanburgCounty - Shana McClain(53)SpartanburgCounty Tyquirez Sims(21)SpartanburgCounty Dorothy Ware Brice68YorkCount

For more information on combating domestic violence or supporting victims' families, visit http://www.scag.gov/criminal-domesticviolence-in-south-carolina.